I've discovered Celestia a while ago and don't want to miss to give you some feedback. So here is a little list of some suggestions and ideas. I hope this is the right place for posting this.

1. Switch off labels with one shortcut-> just like the possibility to switch off orbit lines for having a clear view. One button to switch off all labels and lines at once would be most perfect

2. Hide active orbit line when getting closer to an objectAt last displaying this line isn't really needed anymore when getting close to the target. Besides the line goes through the body which has a quite unnatural appearance.

3. GoTo-Effect when selecting "satellites" by the context menu of a planetWhen someone uses the satellite option by right-clicking a planet, he probably wants to go to the objects moon directly, not just marking him. A GoTo-Effect would be much more comfortable

4. New option: labels and lines

4.1 Changeable colours of (orbit-)lines /labels (Orbitlines might be categorised into classes and single planets)Years ago I've already tested Celestia. But when travelling through the solarsystem there was nothing but orbit lines with a quite dominating blue. Not only that the space atmosphere was decreased, there was just less clarity. Now I had another try and found out how to customise the colours by script. I'm completly happy now with a new number one space simulator. Customisation is really nice - but other users shouldn't spend hours for this

4.2 Transparency effect of lines/labelsWhen you primarily want the view on celestial objects, but don't want to miss information.

4.3 Fading orbit linesE.g. you can locate an object better from distance and you get a sense of the movement. There was already a discussion in another thread: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=15688

5. Selecting objects by clicking labelObjects might be easier to be selected. At the moment you have to aim good

6. Editing bookmarks Possibility to rearrange (by up- and down button or just dragging) and overwrite/update saved bookmarks

7. Object browser

7.1 One browser for all objectsThis means one resizeable browser window e.g. with the following tabs: Solar System, Star Catalogue, Eclipse Finder, Interesting Objects7.2 Directly go to an object by double clicking its entryWould be easier and faster.

7.3 Further ideas (marking objects, layout)...like on this threadpage: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=11773&start=15I'm looking forward to see those realised. I think the possibility of marking objects of a special category (planet-systems, distances,...) has a big educational value.

8. Navigation as in Google EarthThe right-click in Google Earth gives you a smooth movement to your point of choice. Transfered to Celestia, you would select an object by middle-click for example, then hold the button and move down to increase speed forward. Moving up lets you go backwards and moving right or left would give you a rotation. It's similar to "ctrl+left-mouse" but you have a controlable speed and you don't need multiple mouse-pulls to get forward. Also panning onto the ground, with a horizontal view would be a nice thing.

All in all Celestia is a great programm. As every software it's in a steady process of development. I think you (the developers) know the future steps best anyway. Graphical imrovements might be one or keeping data up to date another. But an important thing in my eyes is a new user interface, clearly structured and more intuitive. I saw some screenshots from Linux/Mac-Versions which are going into this direction. So as a Windows user I try to keep patient.

I like some of your ideas on what to display or not. I am also bugged with too much stuff on my screen. I'd like to see points 1,2, 4.1, 4.2, 5, 7.2. For Navigation, I am pretty much used to Celestia right now and it works fine, I doubt any change will improve that significantly. What's annoying is it's restriction on certain keys (selecting an object with enter, you only can select an object with tab, not my clicking; the keys n the number block don't work as numbers, even when writing).

I also have a long list of features I'd like to see in Celestia, but I'm waiting for a stable version 1.7 to suggest more features.

Oh I didn't realize this is 5 years old Well yes some of these features are present now, but not yet in the latest official version 1.6.1. I was lucky someone uploaded a compiled version of an unofficial 1.7, as I have no idea how to do so.